Shielded wireway systems

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a duct for a shielded wireway system. The duct includes a bottom wall, two sidewalls extending from the bottom wall, and a plurality of fingers extending from each of the sidewalls. Adjacent fingers are connected by at least one bridging component. The bottom wall, the sidewalls, and a portion of the fingers, including the bridging component, are shielded.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/323,318, filed Dec. 12, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/424,740, filed Dec. 20, 2010, eachof which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wireway systems, and more particularly,shielded wireway systems.

Unshielded wireway systems are typically made of plastic, which isrelatively inexpensive and lightweight compared to metal. However,plastic is not conductive, and therefore, does not dissipate electricalnoise effectively. Additionally, unshielded wireway systems typicallyhave slotted walls, which further limit their ability to dissipateelectrical noise effectively. Consequently, wires routed throughunshielded wireway systems, for example, in industrial control systems,are susceptible to electrical noise generated by wires and otherelectrical components, such as variable frequency drives, powersupplies, and high speed counters, in close proximity to the unshieldedwireway systems.

Conversely, shielded wireway systems are typically made of metal, whichis conductive, and therefore, dissipates electrical noise effectively.However, metal is relatively expensive and weighty compared to plastic.Additionally, shielded wireway systems typically have solid walls, whichlimit their accessibility.

Therefore, there is a need for shielded wireway systems that areinexpensive, lightweight, and accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a duct for ashielded wireway system. The duct includes a bottom wall, two sidewallsextending from the bottom wall, and a plurality of fingers extendingfrom each of the sidewalls. Adjacent fingers are connected by at leastone bridging component. The bottom wall, the sidewalls, and a portion ofthe fingers, including the bridging component, are shielded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shielded wireway system according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shielded wireway system of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the shielded wireway system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of a shielded wireway system according toan alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a shielded wireway system according toan alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of a shielded wireway system according toan alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shielded wireway system according toan alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the shielded wireway system of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the shielded wireway system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the shielded wireway system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a shielded wireway system according toan alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a shielded divider wall according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the shielded divider wall of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the shielded divider wall of FIG. 12positioned in a wireway system;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the shielded divider wall of FIG. 12positioned between two wireway systems;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of two of the shielded divider walls ofFIG. 12 positioned to form a U-shaped channel;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the shielded divider walls of FIG. 16;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a shielded wireway system 100 according to severalembodiments of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shielded wireway system 100 includes a duct 110and a cover 120. Preferably, the duct 110 and the cover 120 are made ofplastic, such as polyvinylchloride (“PVC”), or other non-conductivematerials, but it is likewise contemplated that the duct 110 and/or thecover 120 are made of metal, such as steel, or other conductivematerials.

As shown in FIG. 2, the duct 110 includes a bottom wall 111, twosidewalls 112 extending from the bottom wall 111, and a plurality offingers 113 extending from each of the sidewalls 112. Preferably, thesidewalls 112 extend along respective longitudinal edges of the bottomwall 111 and are perpendicular to the bottom wall 111. The fingers 113are parallel to the sidewalls 112. Together, the bottom wall 111, thesidewalls 112, and the fingers 113 form a channel 114, such as aU-shaped channel, for routing wires therethrough.

As shown in FIG. 3, the duct 110 includes notches 115A disposed at theintersections of the bottom wall 111 and the sidewalls 112 for tool-lessremoval of the sidewalls 112 from the bottom wall 111. Additionally, theduct 110 includes notches 115B disposed at the intersections of thesidewalls 112 and the fingers 113 for tool-less removal of the fingers113 from the sidewalls 112.

Referring again to FIG. 1, adjacent fingers 113 are separated by atleast one slot 116, which provides access to the channel 114. In certainembodiments of the present invention, adjacent fingers 113 are connectedby at least one bridging component 117 (FIGS. 1, 4-6, and 11), andpreferably, a plurality of bridging components 117. The duct 110includes notches 115C disposed at the intersections of the fingers 113and the bridging components 117 for tool-less removal of the bridgingcomponents 117 from the fingers 113. Each of the fingers 113 includes alatch 118, preferably disposed at a distal end thereof, for securing thecover 120 to the duct 110.

As described above, the duct 110 may be perforated or scored (e.g.,notches 115A, 115B, and 115C) for tool-less removal of the sidewalls112, the fingers 113, and/or the bridging components 114.

Preferably, the duct 110, or at least a portion of the duct 110, isshielded. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom wall 111,the sidewalls 112, and the portion of the fingers 113 below the latches118, including the bridging components 117, include a conductive layer119A, such as conductive foil (e.g., aluminum, copper, and/or nickel),and a non-conductive layer 119B, such as plastic (e.g., PVC).Preferably, the conductive layer 119A is disposed on the outside of theduct 110 and the non-conductive layer 119B is disposed on the inside ofthe duct 110. The remaining portion of the fingers 113, including thelatches 118, includes only the non-conductive layer 119B. Alternatively,as shown in FIGS. 7-9, only the bottom wall 111 and the sidewalls 112include the conductive layer 119A and the non-conductive layer 119B. Thefingers 113, including the latches 118, include only the non-conductivelayer 119B. Alternatively, conductive fillers, such as metal flakes andpowders (e.g., aluminum, copper, and/or nickel), may be integrallyformed with the non-conductive layer 119B, potentially eliminating theneed for a separate conductive layer 119A. Alternatively, the duct 110,or at least a portion of the duct 110, may be made of metal, such assteel, or other conductive materials, as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8, the bottom wall 112 is shielded, butit is likewise contemplated that the bottom wall 112, or at least aportion of the bottom wall 112, is not shielded.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the height of the sidewalls 112 is relativelysmall compared to the height of the fingers 113, and therefore, thesidewalls 112 and the fingers 113 are shielded. Conversely, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the height of the sidewalls 112 is relatively largecompared to the height of the fingers 113, and therefore, the sidewalls112 are shielded and the fingers 113 are not shielded.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the cover 120 includes a top wall 121 and apair of sidewalls 122 extending from the top wall 121. Preferably, thesidewalls 122 extend along respective longitudinal edges of the top wall121 and are perpendicular to the top wall 121.

The sidewalls 122 include a latch 123, preferably disposed at a distalend thereof, for securing the cover 120 to the duct 110. The latch 123engages the corresponding latch 118 on the fingers 113 of the duct 110.

Preferably, the cover 120 is not shielded (FIGS. 2 and 9), but it islikewise contemplated that the cover 120, or at least a portion of thecover 120, is shielded.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the sides of the duct 110 are the same, butit is likewise contemplated that the sides of the duct 110 may bedifferent. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the duct 110 includes aslotted side similar to the slotted sides of FIG. 1 and a solid sidesimilar to the sidewall 112 of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 12-17 illustrate a shielded divider wall 200 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the shielded divider wall 200 includes abottom wall 210 and a sidewall 220 extending from the bottom wall 210.Preferably, the sidewall 220 extends along a longitudinal edge of thebottom wall 210 and is perpendicular to the bottom wall 210. Together,the bottom wall 210 and the sidewalls 220 form a channel 230, such as anL-shaped channel, for routing wires therethrough. However, it islikewise contemplated that wires may be routed along either side or bothsides of the shielded divider 200.

The bottom wall 210 includes a plurality of mounting openings 211 formounting the shielded divider wall 200 to a support structure, such as awireway system or an industrial control system. For example, as shown inFIG. 14, the shielded divider wall 200 is positioned in a wireway system300, including a duct 310 and a cover 320, minimizing noise betweenwires routed in the wireway system. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15,the shielded divider wall 200 is positioned between two wireway systems400, including a duct 410 and a cover 420, minimizing noise betweenwires routed in the wireway systems. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 16and 17, two shielded divider walls 200 are positioned to form a shieldedwireway system 500, which is similar to the shielded wireway system 100,and more particularly, the duct 110 of FIG. 1. Together, the bottomwalls 210 and the sidewalls 220 of the shielded divider wall 200 form achannel 240, such as a U-shaped channel, for routing wires therethrough.It is likewise contemplated that the shielded divider wall 200 may bepositioned in or between other noise-generating systems, such asindustrial control systems, and/or between wireway systems and the othernoise-generating systems.

Referring again to FIGS. 12 and 13, the sidewall 220 includes aplurality of wall sections 221. Adjacent wall sections 221 are connectedby a plurality of bridging components 222, which form a plurality ofcable pass-through openings 223 therebetween.

Each of the wall sections 221 includes a plurality of cable-tie openings224. Preferably, the cable-tie openings 224 are offset from the bridgingcomponents 222 so as to maintain a conductive path between adjacent wallsections 221.

Preferably, the shielded divider wall 200 is made of metal, such assteel, or other conductive materials, but it is likewise contemplatedthat the shielded divider wall 200 is made of plastic, such aspolyvinylchloride (“PVC”), or other non-conductive materials that arecombined with metal, such as aluminum, copper, and nickel, or otherconductive materials, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 12, the shielded divider wall 200 includes six wallsections 221, but it is likewise contemplated that the shielded dividerwall 200 may include any number of wall sections 221. Additionally, oneor more of the wall sections 221 may be removed to achieve a desiredlength. For example, the wall sections 221 may be removed from theshielded divider wall 200 using a cutting tool, such as shears or snips.Alternatively, the shielded divider wall 200 may be perforated or scoredfor tool-less removal of the wall sections 221.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with theexemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives,modifications, variations, and/or improvements, whether known orpresently unforeseen, may become apparent. Accordingly, the exemplaryembodiments of the invention as set forth above are intended to beillustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A divider for a shielded wireway system, the divider comprising: abottom wall; and a plurality of sidewall sections extending from thebottom wall; and a plurality of bridging components connecting adjacentsidewall sections, wherein the bottom wall and at least a portion ofeach of the sidewall sections, including the bridging components, areshielded.
 2. The divider of claim 1, wherein the sidewall sectionsextend along a longitudinal edge of the bottom wall.
 3. The divider ofclaim 1, wherein the sidewall sections are perpendicular to the bottomwall.
 4. The divider of claim 1, wherein the adjacent sidewall sectionsare separated by at least one slot.
 5. The divider of claim 1, whereinthe bottom wall and the sidewall sections form a channel for routingwires.
 6. The divider of claim 1, wherein the divider is L-shaped. 7.The divider of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall and the at least aportion of each of the sidewall sections, including the bridgingcomponents, are metal.
 8. The divider wall of claim 1, wherein thebottom wall includes a plurality of mounting openings.
 9. The dividerwall of claim 1, wherein each of the sidewall sections includes aplurality of cable pass-through openings.
 10. A duct for a shieldedwireway system, the duct comprising: a bottom wall; two sidewallsextending from the bottom wall to a sidewall height; a plurality offingers extending from each of the sidewalls to a finger height; and aplurality of bridging components connecting adjacent fingers, whereinthe finger height is greater than the sidewall height, and wherein thebottom wall, the sidewalls, and at least a portion of the fingers,including the bridging components, are shielded.
 11. A duct for ashielded wireway system, the duct comprising: a bottom wall; twosidewalls extending from the bottom wall to a sidewall height; and aplurality of fingers extending from each of the sidewalls to a fingerheight, wherein the sidewall height is greater than the finger height,and wherein the bottom wall and the sidewalls are shielded.